Among the basic ‘white goods’ in any household, one stands out in terms of user interaction. A fridge, dishwasher or microwave are static products that do not require much of a relationship with their owners. In contrast, a vacuum cleaner requires active engagement – lifting, carrying, emptying, turning, twisting, pushing, pulling make it a challenging product even for the most able-bodied of users. Rodd Industrial Design explored how the redesign of a vacuum cleaner could reduce and streamline these actions so that cleaning becomes a less onerous task for all.
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Older and disabled consumers, vacuum cleaners, white goods, user interface, ergonomics
Design a mainstream product, service, environment, print, on-line or other communication which deliberately includes the needs and aspirations of currently excluded groups of people, or; create a design with young disabled people specifically in mind, focused on their everyday lives in the mainstream. In either case, creating business opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger companies would be an advantage.
Product design, visual communications, service and environmental design: one-handed use.
